Achieving for Children

Children’s services for Kingston and Richmond Councils are delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC), a Community Interest Company wholly owned by the two Councils.

Aims

Achieving for Children launched on 1 April 2014 as a social enterprise. The innovative company model of AfC aims to provide better social, educational and community outcomes for children in Richmond and Kingston.

Achieving for Children has already been recognised by an award of £500,000 from the Government’s Transformation fund, set up to reward local authorities at the cutting edge of transforming public services.

Based on the principles and values of social enterprise Achieving for Children:

Puts children and families at the heart of all it does

Increases partnership working to provide a whole-person approach at reduced cost

Increases the capacity and resilience of public services

Provides a centre of excellence and innovation that will be available to other authorities and public service providers, including help to authorities responding to Improvement Notices.

Services delivered

The main service areas delivered by Achieving for Children are:

Prevention and early help – organising targeted support to children and young people to ensure good school attendance, promote family wellbeing, and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour; also providing specialist support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Child protection – a single point of access for referral and assessment, and the development of interventions and support for children requiring protection.

Social care – high quality provision for children in care including fostering and adoption, and services for care leavers

Education - planning sufficient school places, managing school admissions, and providing challenge and support to schools, early years’ providers and governing bodies, so that they are able to carry out their statutory duties

Health integration - Working with general practitioners, public health and health care providers to ensure integrated services for all children and young people.